A recent study (JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr May 13, 2015 0148607115587329) demonstates a high rate of iron deficiency anemia in patients requiring home parenteral nutrition (Thanks to Kipp Ellsworth for reference).

From Abstract:

Methods: Medical records of patients receiving HPN at the Mayo Clinic from 1977 to 2010 were reviewed. Diagnoses, time to IDA development, and hemoglobin, ferritin, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values were extracted. Response of iron indices to intravenous iron replacement was investigated.

Results: Of 185 patients (122 women), 60 (32.4%) were iron deficient…Of 93 patients who had sufficient iron storage, 37 had IDA development after a mean of 27.2 months (range, 2–149 months) of therapy. Iron was replaced by adding maintenance iron dextran to PN or by therapeutic iron infusion. Patients with both replacement methods had significant improvement in iron status. With intravenous iron replacement, mean ferritin increased from 10.9 to 107.6 mcg/L (P < .0001); mean hemoglobin increased from 11.0 to 12.5 g/dL (P = .0001); and mean MCV increased from 84.5 to 89.0 fL (P = .007).

Conclusions: Patients receiving HPN are susceptible to IDA. Iron supplementation should be addressed for patients who rely on PN.

Zoo Atlanta